Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many non-financial penalties Ofgem has imposed in each year since 2001; and what each such penalty was.

For the first time, the Energy Act 2013 gave the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA) powers to issue non-financial penalties as part of the remedial action package stemming from consumer redress orders, such as variation or termination of contracts with affected consumers, for any breaches that occur on or after 18th February 2014.

In addition, GEMA has issued three Provisional Orders (one in 2010 (First Utility with respect to disconnections of customers in debt) one in 2011 (MA Energy –compliance with Energy Codes) and one in 2014 (Economy Energy – complaints handling and transfer blocking)). It has also accepted commitments on two occasions (once in 2005 (SP Manweb– delays in connections services) and once in 2012 (Electricity North West – connection charges). In 2014, Ofgem agreed sets of targets to improve customer service at Npower and Scottish Power. These cases are ongoing.